解:(1)因为$x + y = 4,$
所以$(x + y)^{2}=x^{2}+2xy + y^{2}=16。$
又因为$x^{2}+y^{2}=9,$
所以$2xy = 16 - 9 = 7,$则$xy = 3.5。$
(3)因为两块直角三角尺全等,$\angle AOB=\angle COD = 90^{\circ},$
点$A,$$O,$$D$在同一直线上,点$B,$$O,$$C$也在同一直线上,
所以$AO = CO,$$BO = DO,$$\angle AOC = 180^{\circ}-\angle COD = 90^{\circ},$$\angle BOD=\angle AOC = 90^{\circ}。$
设$AO = CO = x,$$BO = DO = y。$
因为$AD = AO + OD = x + y = 12,$
所以$(x + y)^{2}=12^{2},$即$x^{2}+y^{2}+2xy = 144,$
所以$2xy = 144-(x^{2}+y^{2})。$
又因为$S_{\triangle AOC}+S_{\triangle BOD}=\frac{1}{2}x^{2}+\frac{1}{2}y^{2}=40,$
所以$x^{2}+y^{2}=80,$所以$2xy = 144 - 80 = 64,$
所以$xy = 32,$所以$S_{\triangle AOB}=\frac{1}{2}OA\cdot OB=\frac{1}{2}xy = 16,$
即一块直角三角尺的面积为$16。$